‘Abd al-Rahman b. Abd Bakr reported: There came to our house some guests. It was a common practice with my father to (go) and talk to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) during the night. While going he said: ‘Abd al-Rahman, entertain the guests. When it was evening we served the food to them, but they refused saying: So long as the owner of the house does not come and join us, we would not take the meal. I said to them: He (‘Abd Bakr) is a stern person, and if you would not do that (if you do not take the food). I fear, I may be harmed by him, but they refused. As he (my father) came, the first thing he asked was: Have you served the guests? They (the peopleof the household) said: We have not served them sofar. He said: Did I not command ‘Abd al-Rahman (to do this)? He (‘Abd al-Rahman) said: I slunk away and kept myself away by that time. He again said: O stupid fellow, I ask you on oath that In case you hear my voice you come to me. I came and said: By Allah, there is no fault of mine. These are your guests; you may ask them. I provided them with food but they refused to eat until you came. He said to them: Why is it that you did not accept our food? By Allah, I shall not even take food tonight (as you have not taken). They said: By Allah, we would not take until you join us. Thereupon he Abu Bakr) said: I have never seen a more unfortunate night than this. Woe be to thee! that you do not accept from us food prepared for you. He again said: What I did first (that is the taking of vow for not eating the food) was prompted by the Satan. Bring the food. The food was brought, and he ate by reciting the name of Allah and they also ate, and when it was morning he came to Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) and said: Allah’s Messenger, their oath (that of the guests) came to be true, but mine was not true, and after that he informed him of the whole incident. He said: Your oath came to be the most true and you are the best of them. He (the narrator) said. I do not know whether he made an atonement for it.
Hadith In Arabic Text :
حدثني محمد بن المثنى، حدثنا سالم بن نوح العطار، عن الجريري، عن أبي عثمان، عن عبد الرحمن بن أبي بكر، قال نزل علينا أضياف لنا – قال – وكان أبي يتحدث إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم من الليل – قال – فانطلق وقال يا عبد الرحمن افرغ من أضيافك . قال فلما أمسيت جئنا بقراهم – قال – فأبوا فقالوا حتى يجيء أبو منزلنا فيطعم معنا – قال – فقلت لهم إنه رجل حديد وإنكم إن لم تفعلوا خفت أن يصيبني منه أذى – قال – فأبوا فلما جاء لم يبدأ بشىء أول منهم فقال أفرغتم من أضيافكم قال قالوا لا والله ما فرغنا . قال ألم آمر عبد الرحمن قال وتنحيت عنه فقال يا عبد الرحمن . قال فتنحيت – قال – فقال يا غنثر أقسمت عليك إن كنت تسمع صوتي إلا جئت – قال – فجئت فقلت والله ما لي ذنب هؤلاء أضيافك فسلهم قد أتيتهم بقراهم فأبوا أن يطعموا حتى تجيء – قال – فقال ما لكم ألا تقبلوا عنا قراكم – قال – فقال أبو بكر فوالله لا أطعمه الليلة – قال – فقالوا فوالله لا نطعمه حتى تطعمه . قال فما رأيت كالشر كالليلة قط ويلكم ما لكم أن لا تقبلوا عنا قراكم قال ثم قال أما الأولى فمن الشيطان هلموا قراكم – قال – فجيء بالطعام فسمى فأكل وأكلوا – قال – فلما أصبح غدا على النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال يا رسول الله بروا وحنثت – قال – فأخبره فقال ” بل أنت أبرهم وأخيرهم ” . قال ولم تبلغني كفارة .
Chapter : The Book of Drinks – كتاب الأشربة